The Kingdom (Parable)

Weeds

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible F. Jesus’ Parables of the Kingdom (13:1–53)

Normally servants would sow the seed. Here in the parable of the weeds (13:24–30) the owner himself does so (v. 27); for he represents Jesus (v. 37)—the One who proclaims the kingdom. His mission embraces “the world” (v. 38), that is, the Gentile nations (28:19).

The church is made up of all kinds of plants. The farmers know this very well. I large portion of their time and money goes towards limiting the amount of weeds that populate their fields. For those that are not farmers you might ask why? Why spend so much money and effort to get rid of those weeds. Well in my experience it is more than just looks, as many farmers do have great pride in a clean field. 1. It makes it much easier to harvest the grain. 2. When you harvest with a grain platform all materials go through it, so you tend to slug the combine. 3. It is often wet and green, which makes it difficult. It also adds to the foreign matter in the harvest. This can cause you to loose profit.

In the world, non-believers are like these weeds. These people can steal our joy in the Lord if we are not careful; much like weeds in a farmers field can steal your profits. I believe with all my heart that the God who created the plant, whether a weed or wheat, wants His creation to plan it’s life around the creator. Yet today, in this world we live in, we seem to plan our time with God around our lives. The weed out in the field does not care that you are raising this crop to feed the world and to make your living.

The church is not so different than the field which has a mix of good and bad plants. The church is a mixed company, consisting of true and false believers (tares are sown among the wheat, v. 25).

Chamblin, J. K. (1995). Matthew. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 738). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

Matthew 13:24–25 (NRSV)

The Parable of Weeds among the Wheat

24 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. Does the farmer ask where the weeds come from? My father told me once that a weed seed can lay dormant for forty years, so you are dealing with a weed fro another generation; these were possibly your father’s weeds. This parable is dealing with more than just a rogue weed. It is dealing with a surprising amount of weeds, so many that one would feel as though they were planted there on purpose. When I was a high school student I was in building trades class my last two years of school and in my first year of that class we helped finish the house that the seniors started building their senior year. One of the last things we did was sow grass in the yard. Some of the seniors thought it would be funny to come in the night after we sowed grass and sow turnips. Needless to say the turnips shaded out the grass and we ended up having to do the yard over.

Matthew 13:26–28 (NRSV)

26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ 28 He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’

This is an interesting take on the pulling of the weeds and I think we should consider this when we look at the world around us. The master tells his slaves that they should not pull the weeds because in pulling the weeds we risk pulling the tares. Matthew 13:29–30 (NRSV)

29 But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’ ” Think about what goes on under the surface of things, roots; where the plant finds its nutrients. The roots get intertwined with each other and when you pull on the weed you cannot see the damage you are causing to the tare under ground.

You see there is a harvest coming soon. When the harvest occurs the weeds will be gathered and burnt in the eternal fire.

So, what then are we to do until this time comes? Lead, encourage, disciple.

Matthew 13:36–43 (NRSV)

Jesus Explains the Parable of the Weeds

36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38 the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!